In the days leading up to our second South of 80 event during Chicago Craft Beer Week, we wanted to make you a little more familiar with our featured breweries. Today we take a look at what we consider to be hands down one of the most interesting brewers in the state, if not the whole Midwest: Scratch

South of 80 returns for Chicago Craft Beer Week, Tuesday May 21st, at The Green Lady. This years event will feature downstate and St. Louis area brewers Destihl, Rolling Meadows, Scratch Brewing, Six Row and Urban Chestnut.

“You sure do have some gumption…walking in to that room, saying the things you said.” I wheeled around to see an unnamed distributor wearing a black pullover with a grey Bud logo over his heart grinning at me. He found me pacing the hallway outside of the Picasso Ballroom at the Omni Hotel on Michigan Avenue, coming down from my …

RYAN: As you read this I have most likely already begun my presentation; talking about breweries, farm-to-table brewpubs and why guys that have trucks with “Budweiser” on them should give a damn. Today, I am speaking before the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois. A number of people will be speaking after me. They’re experts, consultants and attorneys. They know their …

On Friday, May 6th, Anheuser-Busch’s attorney’s filed a motion in federal court asking Judge Robert Dow Jr. to extend the stay on his decision regarding a lawsuit over distribution rights in Illinois. A-B will formally present this motion on May 27th. You are probably sick of reading the background on this issue, but just in case this is the first …

RYAN: If their is one constant I took away from my time covering state government in Springfield it’s that things rarely play out the way you anticipate they will. There are twists and turns and bends in the negotiation process and sometimes the final bill that is produced is not a popular option. In fact, there are instances were no …

Last month we told you about one of two breweries in Illinois that distributes their own beer, Argus Brewery in Chicago. Argus got its start by shopping its beer to restaurants in the suburbs after distributors wouldn’t return their phone calls. Over a year later, Argus still self-distributes about one-third of its beer, mostly in DuPage County, and relies on …